Intrepid

''She's fought a damn good battle,'' Cortez whispered. And if she was popping her head out of his next target, that didn't speak well for his taking any more time than he had to to start the assault on that hole in the ground.

Cortez raised his hand as the woman's head disappeared from view. ''Forward, you men of the Lord's Ever Victorious Host. Forward to Victory or Death.''

''Victory or Death,'' ran up and down the battle line.

Cortez stepped out in front of the line.

''Victory or Death,'' he shouted again, wondering what kind of nutcases got off on such a shout.

''Victory or Death,'' came in waves from his unarmored troops.

''Follow me,'' Cortez yelled into a break in the ''Victory or Death'' shout, and led the men forward at a walk. Every one of them followed him. Cortez unholstered his automatic: a gift from his first command, pearl handled, match quality. He waved it.

Men behind him yelled, ''Victory or Death,'' and waved their rifles in the air.

Colonel Cortez tried not to grin. This was like something out of the ancient histories. Men with rifles walking into battle. He was two, two and a half klicks out from the riflemen posted on the crest of the left ridge. The right ridge seemed to have all its rifles aimed into the valley, none up the valley.

That was something Cortez strongly suspected one Lieutenant Kris Longknife, Wardhaven Navy, was busy correcting. But Cortez had troops in the farmhouse and the orchard at the foot of that valley. Lieutenant Longknife would find that getting anyone out here to face Colonel Cortez and his merry, shouting band of nuts was not going to be easy.

''Forward,'' Cortez shouted, and picked up the pace to a fast walk. No need to tarry here, out of range. They'd be running soon enough when the bullets came whizzing around their ears.

* * *

''Comm tech, raise me Gunny,'' Kris shouted without preamble as she strode into the HQ.

''I can't. His line hasn't answered for a good half hour.''

''Jack?'' Kris countered, taking care to keep her game face on. No one in the room must see the fear growing like a ball of snakes in her gut. I command here.

''I can raise a girl that's doing duty as his comm runner, but she says he's busy. If you really want him, she'll give him a shout, but it ain't safe to do much moving around out there.''

Which left Kris commanding exactly what she could lay her own two hands on.

''Okay, folks, listen up. We've held Cortez along most of the line.'' That brought a small cheer from the elders milling around her. Penny didn't join in it, but eyed Kris.

''But he's not calling it quits.'' That ended the cheer.

''I think he's headed down the valley behind us, looking to force one of our firing ports or observation posts. He wants to get his troops inside the caves.''

''Oh God,'' ''No,'' and ''We can't let that happen'' seemed to sum up the popular assessments of that.

Kris didn't have time to wait until things quieted. ''I'm taking the last Marines we have out to stop the attack. Mrs. Polska, will you see that the fire from this hill stays steady? We can't go quiet here and have them come up our backside.''

''I will see to that.''

''Red, you want to come with me?'' Kris asked.

''You don't want to let me out of your sight, huh, girl?'' the guy said with not quite a leer.

''No, I figured you might like to use that gun you're so fond of,'' Kris shot back. Then she looked around until she spotted the next clan elder she needed.

''Mr. Tzu, the gunners in your house are a problem. We'll have to assault it. How hard and thick are the walls?''

''Wood,'' the man said, stepping forward. ''Good knotty pine, three centimeters thick. We built it about five years back. To get us out of the old sod cabin.''

''Could you collect some of your family?'' Kris said. ''You know all the nooks and crannies people can hide in. We need all the trigger-pullers in that house either dead or surrendered.''

''I understand. Give me a moment,'' and he rushed out.

''Penny, let me know as soon as the Wasp comes online. If Thorpe is running, I want to stop this gunning.'' Penny nodded.

As Kris turned to leave, old man Fronour stepped up beside her. ''You mind if I send along a couple of my boys? I can't let Red have all the bragging rights.''

''You're welcome to the walk,'' Kris said. More than one political dynasty was based on being in the right place for the right shoot-out. Longknife, to name just one.

In the cold room, Kris found Staff Sergeant O'Mally, who'd been honchoing second platoon since its lieutenant didn't survive Kris's last donnybrook. She quickly filled him in on her problem. They consulted a map for half a minute and agreed the house had to be taken first.

''You take a good look at that orchard,'' Kris ordered. ''Give me two Marines, and we'll take the house.''

''Ma'am, you get yourself killed, and the captain's gonna have my guts for fiddle strings.''